Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - March 23, 2004
3/23/2004
This is the eleventh issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report, a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on the price of alternative fuels in the U.S. and their relation to gasoline and diesel prices. This issue discusses prices that were gathered from Clean Cities coordinators and stakeholders between March 3 and March 17, 2004, with comparisons to the prices in the previous Price Report, which were collected in December, 2003.
Authors: Lott, M.
Demonstration of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine
2/1/2004
This project demonstrated a heavy-duty natural gas engine emission reduction strategy resulting in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions of 0.54 g/bhp-h and particulate matter (PM) emissions of 0.004 g/bhp-h. Reducing NOx and PM emissions is crucial for meeting increasingly strict regulations (Figure 1). By 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require NOx emissions of 0.2 g/bhp-h or less and PM emissions of 0.01 g/bhp-h or less. The technology demonstrated in this project may help natural gas engines meet the 2010 requirements. It is anticipated that this would lead to more extensive use of natural gas vehicles, resulting in reduced petroleum consumption.
Fuel and Fuel Additive Registration Testing for Ethanol-Diesel Blend for O2Diesel, Inc.
2/1/2004
Testing was performed on a heavy-duty diesel engine in support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for registration of designated fuels and fuel additives as stipulated by sections 211(b) and 211(e) of the Clean Air Act. Emission generation, collection, and analysis of the regulated emissions and speciation of vapor-phase and semi-volatile hydrocarbon compounds were performed on a Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine manufactured in 2002 and meeting the 1998 federal heavy-duty emission standards that applied in 2002.
Authors: Fanick, E.R.; O2Diesel, Inc.
City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation LNG Heavy-Duty Trucks
2/1/2004
This fact sheet describes an Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) field study for Dual-Fuel? liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuse trucks used by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation. The study showed that the trucks with Dual-Fuel engines were best suited to meet the operational requirements of refuse collection. Specifically, the Dual-Fuel trucks had adequate horsepower and torque and could be operated safely over all terrains covered by the Bureau's refuse collection service.
Biomass Power and Conventional Fossil Systems with and without CO2 Sequestration--Comparing the Energy Balance, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Economics
1/31/2004
Power generation emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly carbon dioxide (CO2). Sequestering CO2 from the power plant flue gas can significantly reduce the GHGs from the power plant itself, but this is not the total picture. CO2 capture and sequestration consumes additional energy, thus lowering the plant's fuel-to-electricity efficiency. To compensate for this, more fossil fuel must be procured and consumed to make up for lost capacity. Taking this into consideration, the global warming potential (GWP), which is a combination of CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, and energy balance of the system need to be examined using a life cycle approach. This takes into account the upstream processes which remain constant after CO2 sequestration as well as the steps required for additional power generation.
Authors: Spath, Pam; Mann, Margaret
State-Level Workshops on Ethanol for Transportation
1/31/2004
In 2002/2003, under contract to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, BBIInternational conducted state-level workshops ethanol in Hawaii, Nevada, Kentucky and California. These four workshops followed over 30 other workshops previous held under the Ethanol Workshop Series program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Two other workshops were conducted by BBI International during 2003, Oklahoma and Kansas, under contract to the Western Regional Biomass Energy Program.The Ethanol Workshop Series (EWS) was intended to provide a forum for interest groups to gather and discuss what needs to be accomplished to facilitate ethanol production in-state using local biomass resources. In addition, the EWS was to provide a promotional and educational forum for policy makers, community leaders, media and potential stakeholders. It was recognized that to eventually achieve biomass-ethanol production, it was necessary to supportgrain-ethanol production as a bridge.The long-term goal of the Workshops was to facilitate the development of biomass ethanol plants at a state-level. The near-term goal was to provide correct and positive information for education, promotion, production and use of fuel ethanol. The EWS drew from 65 to over 200 attendees and were deemed by the local organizers to have served the objectives set out by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Authors: Graf, Angela
Ethanol Fuel Incentives Applies in the U.S.--Reviewed from California's Perspective
1/31/2004
This report describes measures employed by state governments and by the federal government to advance the production and use of ethanol fuel in the United States. The future of ethanol as an alternative transportation fuel poses a number of increasingly-important issues and decisions for California government, as the state becomes a larger consumer, and potentially a larger producer, of ethanol.
Authors: MacDonald, Tom
Business Management for Biodiesel Producers
1/31/2004
The material contained in this book is intended to provide the reader with information about biodiesel in four basic areas: (1) Biodiesel and the liquid fuels industry, (2) Biodiesel business start-up issues, (3) Legal and regulatory issues, and (4) Operational concerns. Information about production of biodiesel and maintaining quality control are covered in separate publicatons.
Authors: Gerpen, Jon Van
State-Level Workshops on Ethanol for Transportation - Final Report
1/30/2004
In 2002/2003, under contract to NREL, BBI International conducted state-level ethanol workshops in Hawaii, Nevada, Kentucky, and California. These four workshops followed over 30 other workshops previously held under the Ethanol Workshop Series program sponsored by DOE. Two other workshops were conducted by BBI during 2003 in OK and KS under contract to the Western Regional Biomass Energy Program.
Authors: Graf, Angela
Module 1: Permitting Stationary Fuel Cell Installations
1/12/2004
This document is part of a series of reports about hydrogen codes and standards developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The purpose of this module is to facilitate the acceptance of stationary fuel cell technologies for buildings. To achieve this purpose, the module provides information on the building regulatory processes and provisions of relevant codes and standards that will have an impact on the design, deployment, approval, installation, operation, and maintenance of fuel cell technologies. The module covers fuel cell installations in buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings and for energy functions other than industrial processes. It is intended as a tool for determining the codes and standards applicable to stationary fuel cell installations that provide electricity for commercial buildings and that may also produce waste heat that can offset other energy-using features of such buildings.
Notes: Copies of this document are available from the PNNL Website at: http://www.pnl.gov/fuelcells/docs/permit-guides/module1_final.pdf.
Regulators Guide to Permitting Hydrogen Technologies
1/12/2004
Codes and standards are needed to ensure safety as well as to commercialize hydrogen as a fuel. To accomplish its codes and standards objectives, staff of the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies Program work with code development organizations, code officials, industry experts, and national laboratory scientists to draft new model codes and equipment standards that cover emerging hydrogen technologies for consideration by the various code-enforcing jurisdictions.
In support of the program objectives, this guide was developed through a collaborative effort involving National Fire Protection Association, the International Code Council, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Notes: Copies of this document are available from the PNNL Website at: http://www.pnl.gov/fuelcells/docs/permit-guides/overview_final.pdf
Module 2: Permitting Hydrogen Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities
1/12/2004
This document is part of a series of reports about hydrogen codes and standards developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The purpose of this module is to guide permitting officials, code enforcement officials, and other parties involved in approving the implementation of hydrogen motor fuel dispensing facilities.
Notes: Copies of this document are available from the PNNL Website at: http://www.pnl.gov/fuelcells/docs/permit-guides/module2_final.pdf.
Production of Butyric Acid and Butanol from Biomass
1/1/2004
Butanol was used to replace gasoline gallon for gallon in a 10,000 mile trip across the U.S. without the need to highy modify a 1992 Buick. Butanol can now be made for less than ethanol and yields more BTUs from the same corn, making the plow-to-tire equation positive. Butanol when substituted for gasoline gives better gas mileage and does not pollute the atmosphere.
Authors: Ramey, D.; Yang, S-T
Ethanol Fuel Incentives Applied in the U.S.: Reviewed from California's Perspective
1/1/2004
Report produced by the California Energy Commission that analyzes the measured used by the United States government and the states to advance the production and use of ethanol. Reviews the national and state-level credits, tariffs, regulations, and incentives and their influence on the state of California.
Authors: California Energy Commission